The School of Biological Sciences was created in 1994 from the former Departments of Biochemistry and Biology to foster research and teaching collaboration across the Biological Sciences. Research is organised into three centres: Biomedical Sciences (BMS), Plant Molecular Sciences (PMS) and Ecology Evolution and Behaviour (EEB). Research collaboration and sharing of technical expertise takes place across the whole School and there is also active collaboration with other departments in the College and with universities and research institutes in the UK and overseas. There are over 30 permanent members of academic staff in the School, together with some 50 postdoctoral research fellows and assistants, and more than 60 graduate research students.

Research is funded by the UK Research Councils, UK Department of Health, European Commission, charities (eg Wellcome Trust, Gates Foundation, Mammal Trust), government agencies (eg UK Food Standards Agency, Environmental Agency, Central Veterinary Laboratories) and industry (eg Wyeth, Glaxo-SmithKline, Syngenta). The School of Biological Sciences is housed in the Bourne-Wolfson Laboratory complex, which has recently been refurbished, alongside the Psychology Department. The Electron Microscopy Unit and Bedford Library, housing the Science periodicals collection, are located nearby.